VGC: Brotherly Love Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Leo's Dream

Leo stood there, dumbfounded. He wasn't sure where he was. He looked at the floor, it was some ugly tan tiling with black spots all over them. He looked at the walls, they were lined with ugly gray lockers and the walls were a boomer puke green. Suddenly a bell rang, and he looked around. Little children were running all over the place, but none noticed Leo. Then his jaw dropped. He saw a little pink cat walk out of a door into the hall way. She was wearing a light red shirt with a red back pack, and carrying a green book. Leo knew who it was.

"Aeris." Leo says aloud.

No one in the halls payed any mind to him, like Leo wasn't even there. He watched her walking down the hall, then saw someone was following her stealthily (Er, kinda). Leo knew what was going to happen, and rushed over to grab the younger Snake and stop this. But when he reached down, his paw phased right through Snake, and he kept creeping up on Aeris. This was angering him, seeing his best friend about to be assaulted and he couldn't do a thing about it. Then he heard humming. He turned around and saw his younger self. Leo then smiled, and rushed ahead to catch up with Aeris and Snake.

By the time he got there, Snake was right behind her and then quickly shoved her. She stumbled a bit, dropping her book. She turned around, and surprising to Leo wasn't extremely mad like she would now a days. Leo looked into her eyes, they looked lonely. He couldn't hear what Snake said, but suddenly his younger self showed up and shouted "ALARM!". The young Snake panicked and ran into a locker, where his younger self locked him inside. Leo let out a short laugh, and watched his younger self pick up Aeris's book and hand it to her.

"Falls for it every time. Here, you dropped this." Little Leo said.

Aeris's face went from a slightly angry look to a shocked look. She wasn't expecting any help from anyone. Leo knew she and he didn't have any friends, so this must have startled Aeris tremendously. Suddenly everything froze. Leo looked around, all the other students disappeared, and left just his younger self and little Aeris standing together, looking at one another. Leo walked up to them, and studied them. He first examined himself. He didn't look much different than he does now, except shorter and less apparent injuries. He then looked over to Aeris. She too hasn't changed much from this, physically anyway (except for the usual female characteristics). He then looked into her eyes. They were different. He doesn't remember seeing her like this before, maybe it was because of the event that had taken place. Or just because this what when they first met.

Leo wasn't sure, but he could see innocence, shyness, and sadness all together. She was a lot different in those early days. She treated Leo with much more respect and more nicely than she does now. He figured it was so she wouldn't loose her one and only friend. Leo couldn't help but stand there and look into her eyes. Suddenly, little Aeris turned her head towards big Leo. This startled Leo, and he backed off, tripping on something and falling on his butt. The Little Aeris started walking to him, as Leo noticed everything disappearing around him, even the little Leo. He looked back at Aeris, but now she was older. She walked up to Leo's feet, and then got down on all fours and started crawling over him, closer and closer to his face. Leo could only blush, for he didn't know what was even going on. She stopped, inches from his face. Leo wasn't sure what to think of this, as he looked at her. She finally sat on his thighs and just sat there looking at him.

"Um, hi?" Leo is able to muster out.

Suddenly Aeris leans in and kisses Leo on the lips. The hairs on Leo's neck shoot up and his legs straighten out. He realized Aeris was kissing him. It was a dream, but still, KISSING HIM! But something didn't feel right, in fact, he didn't feel anything at all. There was no contact feeling on his lips. He pushed Aeris off of him and looked at her. She had the same lonely eyes she had back in elementary school. Aeris smiled and stood up. She placed her paws at her hips and looked down at Leo.

"Well? Anything yet?" Aeris asks.

"Um, nope!" Leo says smiling.

Aeris face palms, and kneels down at him again. She puts her face as close as she can to his, their noses almost touch. Aeris looks into Leo's eyes, and Leo can only do the same. Leo starts to remember things, he thinks of the good times they had younger, all the way to before Aeris got kicked out of her house. Then, something in Leo's little brain clicked. Leo's eyes grew bigger, and Aeris smiles once more and backs off.

"Took you long enough, dumb ass." Aeris says, turning around and walking away.

Leo made no attempt to stop her, or go after her. He just sat there, thinking. He knew what it was he was searching for. It was in her eyes. It wasn't the fact that he was searching for it, but he realized he's actually WAITING for it. He remembers the Aeris he fell for, the Aeris he became friends with, and wanted to love. The lonely, sad Aeris that had seeked his friendship so long ago. The entire time, he has been waiting for that Aeris to come back, this mean and abusive Aeris to leave so he could tell the sad and lonely Aeris how much he feels for her, and comfort her.

Leo didn't know what to do to bring this Aeris back. He thought about it, maybe if she made up with her parents. No, that would make things worse. Suddenly Leo heard foot steps. He looked up, and saw Alex standing there.

"Um, what are you doing here?" Leo asks, confused.

"Oh come on Leo. It took Aeris how many dreams for you to realize what she was telling you? I'm not going to be around long enough for that, so you got one more dream." Alex says, smiling.

"What do you mean you don't have that much time?" Leo asks.

Suddenly Alex draws his pistol and aims it at Leo's head. Leo gasps, as Alex's smile gets bigger. He pulls the hammer back.

"Now, wake up damn it! I don't have much time." Alex says, pulling the trigger.

There is a bang, as Leo jumps out of bed. He goes airborne and lands back onto his bed with a loud "PLOP". He checks himself for a gun shot.

"Geeze, it was just a dream." Leo says, with a sigh of relief.

Now Leo is left wondering; what did Alex mean? Was it just to symbolize something between he and Aeris? Leo wasn't sure, so he crawled out of bed, threw on a shirt and pajama pants, and walked out of his room. He immediately hears old music playing and expects Alex's record player. But when he looks, the cover is on it. Then he hears the familiar sound of someone going int VATS. Leo stumbles to the couch and see's Alex sitting there, playing Fallout 3.

"Um, Alex? What are you doing?" Leo asks.

Alex pauses the game and turns around.

"I'm playing this game Aeris showed me. She thought I'd like it, and I have to say, its amazing! They even have some of my favorite artists in here, Bing Crosby, The Ink Spots, Billie Holiday." Alex says, trying to think of more.

"That's good and all, but where is she?" Leo asks, puzzled.

"Oh, she decided she wanted to go do some job searching."

"Job searching? You know you can just do that on the internet right?"

"Well yea, but I convinced her it shows more determination and interest if you actually go to the place and apply. Hell, I've done that and gotten hired on the spot."

"That's odd. I wouldn't think Aeris would actually do something like that." Leo says, sitting down next to Alex.

As Leo sits, Alex notice's the remains of lip stick on his left cheek. He smiles, figuring everything must have gone ok last night after all.

"Yea, so I also went out and did some shopping. So first things first Leo. Time I showed you a few things about slow dancing." Alex says, standing up.

Leo looks puzzled, unsure what Alex means by this.

"Come on Leo, stand up." Alex says.

Leo reluctantly stands up, standing in front of Alex.

"Ok, I will be Aeris and you will be you, ok?" Alex says.

"Why are you Aeris?" Leo asks.

Alex gives Leo an odd look, like Leo said something stupid... which he usually does.

"I heard that." Leo says.

He he...anyway, Alex gives him an odd look.

"Why not Aeris? I thought we were doing this because of her?" Alex says.

"Well I know, it just seems... weird." Leo says.

"Oh please, I saw you two at the retirement center dancing. I peaked in just before I got jumped."

Leo sighs.

"I just don't know if I can do this. I mean, your not Aeris so it just seems-" Leo starts.

"Hold that thought, I figured that would be a problem." Alex says, rushing over to a paper bag on the floor.

"Hey Alex, where is your sling?" Leo asks, noticing its absent from his right arm.

"Aw, I ditched it. I don't need it." Alex says. "Ah, here we go."

Alex then pulls out a massive chunk of Pink fur and places it on his head. He then turns around and smiles.

"Ta-da!" Alex says, extending his arms out.

Leo has a horrified look on his face.

"You got a wig of Aeris's hair made?" Leo asks, stunned.

"Yup, you know, for inspiration. Now, lets try this again." Alex says, walking back to Leo. "Now, extend your right paw to me."

"Why?"

"Because you are the male. Now, extend your right paw to me and ask me if I'd like to dance."

So with that, Alex tries to teach Leo some of the simple basics to dancing. How to move with each other, where to place his paws, and footing. After an hour, Leo is getting the hang of things when suddenly Leo and Alex hear the front door being unlocked.